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Alabama Softball: Tide splits double-header vs Kentucky

By Ronald Evans

MIAMI GARDENS, FL - JANUARY 07: An Alabama fan smiles before the 2013 Discover BCS National Championship game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Sun Life Stadium on January 7, 2013 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
MIAMI GARDENS, FL - JANUARY 07: An Alabama fan smiles before the 2013 Discover BCS National Championship game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Sun Life Stadium on January 7, 2013 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /
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Alabama softball ace, Alexis Osorio returned to action on Saturday, pitching a shutout against the Kentucky Wildcats as the Tide split a double-header.

Bama Hammer note: Our regular Alabama softball writer, Chris Dodson wrote this story. Due to a computer issue, we are retyping his work into this post, resulting in him not being shown as the author.

Alabama Softball has been suffering from a pattern of performance that does not lead to championships. That pattern has been inconsistency. Play great one game and follow that strong performance with weak performance. Alabama softball needs to break this pattern soon.

Alexis Osorio returns from a concussion

After ending the precautionary period of concussion protocol, Alexis Osorio came back strong for the Tide. In game one in Lexington, Alexis Osorio (7-3) posted a complete-game shutout win with a 9-0 result. Osorio only allowed one hit and handed 10 strikeouts to UK batters. Autumn Humes (5-3) was handed the loss for the Wildcats, with three earned runs in three innings of work.

Game two was a different game with a different result. Madison Preston (6-4) was handed the loss in an 11-6 decision. UK pitching ace Grace Baalman (10-4) earned the win with four earned runs on 11 hits. Preston only had 2.1 innings of work before being substituted by Courtney Gettins.

Alabama softball clearly has an issue with consistency. The past two SEC series have displayed similar results in the first two games, with each having mixed results of the rubber matches of each series. That’s called a pattern. That also means Alabama needs to break out of that pattern and they need to break out of it now.

Consistency is Key

Consistency is the key to success in softball. There is a reason these teams play three games at a time. Only the strongest make it out of a series unscathed week after week. Alabama hasn’t really done that this season and it’s evident in recent weekends.

As we write a recap of every game, the story is often similar. After game one in each series, we see peak Alabama. The pitching is precise, methodical and jaw-dropping. The offense sets the bats on fire and manages to make contact easily with the ball. The defense makes crazy catches that make SportsCenter. Performances so strong, it makes you think “this team has so much potential.”

Then, game two happens and it’s a different story. Suddenly, the defense is sloppy, the bats get colder and the overall execution is not nearly as precise. Granted, an 11-6 result is a decent effort, but it’s still an L on the record. Whereas game one showed the potential, game two disappoints when that potential is squandered by a lackluster result.

To be fair, as we have said all season, this is one of Alabama’s toughest schedules in recent memory. For Sunday in Lexington, game three is the priority and Alabama must win this game. The WCWS is approaching quickly and if Alabama wants to stand a chance, they will need to use this time to get sharper. As fans, we want to see that potential week in and week out. Alabama needs to move from consistently inconsistent to just simply consistent.

Next: Jalen Hurts represents what is right

Alabama’s rubber match in Lexington will be Sunday at 12 pm Noon. It will air on WatchESPN. Next weekend, the Tide faces Florida in a three-game series in Tuscaloosa.

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